Otago United, set for its best finish in the national youth league, will make the final if it can upset Canterbury in Christchurch today.
Canterbury has a one-point advantage in the southern conference, so nothing less than a win will do, if Otago is to progress and earn a final spot against either Auckland City or the Northern under-17 side.
Otago coach Tony Martin and support staff James Letts and Nick Cooper are delighted to havereached this stage of the season with destiny in their own hands.
''At the start of the season, we said that our league position at the end of the season would essentially reflect how well the team has developed, so to go into the last game with a shot at making the final is hugely pleasing,'' Cooper said.
The players had worked ''incredibly hard'' and the results on the pitch were a reflection of how they had progressed both individually and as a team.
Otago United was excited about today's challenge and, after keeping three clean sheets this season and scoring nine goals, the team was optimistic.
The goals have been shared between Jackson Mitchell, Nikita Meglinski, Taylor McCormack (two each), Will McIntyre, Finn Moore and Matt Webb.
Cooper said it was pleasing to see the progression of the Otago players, some of whom had been given a taste of the senior national league.
Otago United
Youth squad
Zayn Officer, Ross Howard, Cam Attwood, Peter Overmire, Geordie Mansford (captain), Will McIntyre, Nikita Meglinski, Jackson Mitchell, Sam Mepham, Andrew Ridden, Taylor McCormack, Anthony Mellon, Mat Mitchell/Jesse Smith, Finn Moore, Matt Kelly, Lewis Jackson.
